We continue in this new post on our blog telling, tourists and residents, some curiosities on the island of Fuerteventura.

FUERTEVENTURA, THE ELDEST OF THE CANARY ISLANDS
Fuerteventura is the eldest of the Canary Islands. It originated, like the rest of the Canaries, through marine volcanic processes, which began to surface about 22 million years ago, and it is uncommon to find volcanic islands over 6 million years old, so it is a true challenge of nature.
The last volcanic eruption on the island was about 10.000 years ago, and it was the one that formed the Volcano of La Arena, in the municipality of La Oliva, with a magnificent landscape, known as “Malpaís de La Arena”.

MAXORATA AND JANDÍA
Fuerteventura was originally made up of two separate islands, separated by a sandy isthmus that, after several volcanic episodes, grew and lformed a single island. However, throughout history these two parts continued somewhat divided. When conquerors arrived in Fuerteventura, called Erbania then, the island was divided into two kingdoms: Maxorata (north) and Jandía (south), each ruled by a warrior: Guize in the north and Ayoze in the south. When the conquerors arrived, these great warriors finally laid down their arms and surrendered, along with their men, the island becoming part of the Crown of Castile in 1476. The first capital of the island, Betancuria, is then set (up to XIX century), after the Norman conqueror Jean de Bethencourt.

THE ADJECTIVE “MAJORERO”
At the time of the conquest (XV C.), the word “Maho” was used to refer to the Amazigh people who were on the island of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote when the conquerors arrived. There are two hypotheses of the etymology of the term: first it was thought to come from the Amazigh word “Mahu” which means “to skin, that is, to remove the skin” in relation to a type of footwear made of the skin that was used at the time. Another hypothesis, perhaps best known, assures that it comes from the word Maxorata, the Amazigh “Mahâr-at”, which means sons of the country, and that was the name that was given to what is now the northern part of Fuerteventura, to the isthmus of “La Pared”. Later on, “majorero” began to be used exclusively to refer to the people born in Fuerteventura.

“CANARY BEACH”
Its nearly 80kms of beaches turn this island into the best prepared for bathing and for water sports of all the Canary Islands. Many people from the rest of the islands come to Fuerteventura in summer to spend their holidays, due to the charm of its beaches.

BIOSPHERE RESERVE
All the territory of Fuerteventura has been declared Biosphere Reserve since May 2009 due to its wild nature.
Despite its arid nature, this island has a rich biodiversity and is the largest representation of steppe and desert habitats in the whole archipelago, and also in the European Union, being a perfect Geo-paleontological observatory (50 sites with fossil records).
Its marine environment is undoubtedly the richest in the Canary Islands.

STARLIGHT RESERVE
On July 31^st2015, the sky of Fuerteventura was definitely acredited with a certificate for the quality of its skies, becoming the third Starlight Reserve in the Canary Islands, with Tenerife and La Palma, out of the 7 existing throughout the world: Sierra Morena and Sierra Sur de Jaén (Andalusia), Montsec (Catalonia), National Park Fray Jorge (Chile)and Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaq Lands (Canada).
With this certificate, Fuerteventura is committed to protecting the quality of their night sky, also associated with cultural, scientific, astronomical, or natural values.

FUERTEVENTURA: SEA TURTLES NEST
The coast of Fuerteventura, especially the Jandía peninsula in the south, is one of the favorite places in the world for sea turtles to nest and breed. Out of the 8 species of turtles in the world, 4 of them frequent the “majorera” coasts.

COFETE BEACH: BACKGROUND OF FAMOUS FILM SHOOTINGS
Cofete beach in the municipality of Pájara, has been chosen as setting for Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Planet of the Apes” (1968) and, more recently, the movie “Exodus” (2014), all because of its spectacular landscape.

LIGHTHOUSES IN FUERTEVENTURA
The island of Fuerteventura has 4 lighthouses: one in Cotillo, another one on the island of Lobos, one in “Punta de Jandia” and one of special beauty, the one on “La Entallada”, built on a cliff.

FuerteCharter Team

THE CANARY ISLANDS ARE PART OF LA MACARONESIA AND MYTHOLOGICAL ATLANTIS
La Macaronesia is the set of five of the North Atlantic archipelagos: Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira and the Savage Islands. It comes from the Greek word makárôn nêsoi, which means “happy or fortunate islands”, where it was assumed that deceased heroes of mythology would abide.
Macaronesian islands were never connected to the continent, as they are volcanic islands that emerged from marine eruptions, and according to mythology, it was thought that these islands were the summits of Atlantis (submerged continent), emerging to the surface. Atlantis, according to mythology, was the continent that Zeus sank in punishment for its inhabitants” bad behaviour.

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WPRD “CANARIAS”
These islands received its name because after the first expedition sent by the king of Mauritania to meet the ends of the ocean, beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar), what they found when they reached these islands was a fierce breed of dogs (the Latin: can, canis), so the name the islands received was “Insula Canaria” (Isle of Dogs).

“EL GOFIO”
Energy food derived from some roasted and ground cereals such as wheat, rye, corn, barley … Its highly nutritious properties turned it into the staple food of this people for many years. This powder is often added to milk at breakfast, also to “el potaje canario”or kneaded , resulting into “la pellla de gofio”.

“MAJORERO” CHEESE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN
“Majorero” goat cheese enjoys appellation of origin from the February 16^th , 1996, and it can be made only with goat milk from the island or a mixture of up to 15% of Canarian sheep milk, before letting it age.
In the case of mature cheese it features the palm leaf on its bark, which is used in “empleitas” to make the mould that shapes it. The most famous ones are cured with gofio, paprika or oil, although other varieties are found.

THE SALT
In the early twentieth century, salt was one of the resources that allowed the islands to generate more revenue. The climate of the Canary Islands is ideal for the production of sea salt, which was exported all over the world, and which also was of great importance to preserve fish, when the phenomenon of freezing had not yet been discovered.

“COCHINILLA” WAS ALSO TRADED
The cochineal is a parasite insect of the cactus, from which a very bright red dye is obtained out of its blood , used in ancient times to dye fabrics. Until the mid-nineteenth century it was a precious commodity, as the high society’s garments were dyed with it. Eventually, much cheaper but less safe synthetic dyes were discovered.
This dye is used today as a food colouring (E-120) and in the pharmaceutical industry, and small productions are preserved on the island of Lanzarote and La Palma.

CANARIAN WRESTLING
This sport has a long history among the Canarian population, as it has been practised in the island since these were inhabited by “los Guanches” (ancient inhabitants).
It consists of unbalancing the opponent and making them touch the ground with any part of his body other than their sole.
It is played on sand enclosures called “Terreros”.

“EL TIMPLE”
Plucked string instrument, typical of the Canary Islands, of small dimensions (38-40cms) and due to its curved back, hump-like, it’s recognized as the ” resounding little Camel”.

FuerteCharter Team